Lesson 24 · Lesson guide
Health, Diet and Medicine
Hello, my dear student!
Hello! Health is one of the topics that appears most often in IELTS. Reading passages discuss diets and new medicines, Listening has talks about health centres, and Task 2 essays ask about obesity, healthcare systems and life expectancy.
Today you will learn the key words in three groups: illness and medicine (symptom, treatment, cure, prevention), diet and lifestyle (a balanced diet, processed food, a sedentary lifestyle) and the word forms that cause mistakes (health or healthy? obesity or obese?).
At the end you will use the words in every part of the test, including an essay about obesity.
See you in the exercises,Your teacher
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Three groups of words
Illness
symptom → diagnosis → treatment → cure
A symptom is a sign; the diagnosis names the illness; treatment is the care; a cure ends it. Prevention stops it before it starts.
- A cough is a common symptom of flu.
- Prevention is better than cure.
Lifestyle
Diet and exercise
a balanced diet, processed food, junk food, a sedentary lifestyle, take regular exercise, cut down on sugar.
- A sedentary lifestyle can lead to obesity.
- Try to cut down on sugar.
Society
Big-picture words for essays
life expectancy, the healthcare system, obesity, mental health, chronic diseases.
- Life expectancy has risen in most countries.
- Obesity is a growing problem.
Remember!
Noun or adjective? health / healthy, obesity / obese, nutrition / nutritious.
Collocations to learn
follow a balanced diet
take regular exercise
cut down on salt
put on weight / lose weight
lead a sedentary lifestyle
get enough sleep
Common mistakes
Not: Fast food is not health.Say: Fast food is not healthy.
After is → adjective: healthy.
Not: Obese is a big problem.Say: Obesity is a big problem.
The subject is a noun: obesity.
Not: He makes exercise every day.Say: He takes exercise every day. / He exercises every day.
take / do exercise, not make.
Check yourself
The average number of years people live is called…
A lifestyle with a lot of sitting and little movement is…
Now it’s your turn!
8 short parts, each a little harder than the one before. Take your time: mistakes are how we learn.
— Your teacher